What Steps Should Postal Employees Take After a Work Injury?

Postal employees should seek medical treatment, report what happened, and contact an attorney for help after a work injury. Taking these steps after an accident at work can help USPS workers get fair compensation for their losses in Georgia. 

You can go over what steps postal employees should take after a work injury with an Atlanta USPS workers’ compensation claims lawyer. An attorney can help you understand the legal process and stand with you until the resolution of your claim.

Postal Employees Should Report a Work Injury

Individuals working for the USPS should promptly report any injury sustained on the job. You should tell your manager or supervisor about your injury. Prompting reporting an incident can jump-start the process of securing compensation for your losses. 

Additionally, reporting the accident can connect your injuries to an event on the job. Establishing this connection can make it easier for you to get proper payment for your medical bills and other covered losses. 

You can learn more about how to report an injury with an Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer. 

Postal Employees Should Seek Medical Treatment

Any USPS workers who sustain injuries on the job should get immediate medical care. If you find yourself in this situation, you should inform your healthcare provider that the accident happened on the job. 

Healthcare providers will include information about the injury and how it occurred in your official medical paperwork, providing documentation that can help with your compensation claim. 

Workers Need to Follow All Medical Advice

It’s essential that injured postal workers follow all advice and guidance provided by healthcare workers after an accident. For example, you may need to:

• Go to several follow-up appointments
• Take medications as ordered
• Participate in therapy 

Failure to follow medical advice can delay your recovery and prevent you from securing compensation for your losses. 

Injured Postal Employees Should Talk to a Lawyer

It’s crucial to get professional legal help from an Atlanta personal injury lawyer after an on-the-job accident. An attorney can assist with all legal matters and may:

Answer Legal Questions

Postal workers often have many questions after an accident on the job. Lawyers take the time to explain the steps you need to take after an accident and review your situation to see if you qualify for money to cover your losses. 

An attorney will also provide information about how to file your claim. USPS workers do not go through Georgia’s workers’ compensation system after an on-the-job accident. Instead, they have to rely on the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) for payment. 

The Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation (DFEC) (part of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP)) will process these claims. 

Help Workers File a Claim

An attorney can help you properly complete the paperwork required to request compensation after a workplace accident. Providing the correct information can speed up the claims process and reduce the chances of a benefits denial. 

Help After a Claim Denial

In some cases, workers may face an initial denial of benefits. A lawyer can take steps to appeal this decision, potentially helping an injured employee to secure fair benefits. 

An attorney can also provide more information about what steps postal employees should take after a work injury. 

Benefits Available to Injured Postal Employees 

USPS workers who sustain injuries on the job may qualify for benefits to pay for their:

Medical Expenses

Workplace injuries can result in high medical bills. Fortunately, you may receive benefits to pay for all the current and future healthcare costs you face, including compensation for your:

• Emergency medical treatment
• Time in a hospital
• Medical tests and procedures
• Medications
• Physical therapy and rehabilitative care

It’s essential that you seek medical care quickly after an accident so you have a complete record of the costs of your treatment. 

Lost Wages

You may receive a percentage of your average wages when you need time off from work after an accident at work. However, the benefit system does not fully cover your lost pay. 

Note that you may only receive these benefits for a set amount of time. Your lawyer can explain how long wage replacement benefits last. 

Additional Benefits

Some postal service employees receive additional benefits after an accident. For example, some employees will get benefits for partial or total disability, depending on the severity of their injuries.

An attorney can review your situation and provide detailed information about the benefits you qualify to receive. 

Talk to Us After a USPS Work Injury in Atlanta, GA

So, what steps should postal employees take after a work injury in Georgia? Injured USPS workers should report the injury, seek medical treatment, and reach out to a lawyer for help filing a claim for benefits.

Our team at John Foy & Associates can help you after a workplace injury. We proudly stand as the Strong Arm for injured clients and want to provide the dedicated support you deserve after an on-the-job accident. 

You can reach out to us today to discuss your situation and the steps you need to take to secure benefits.